Structure



March 25, 1952 D. A. WALLACE ET AL 2,590,588

STRUCTURE Filed Sept. 7, 1946 INVENTOR.

paw}; E Wallac v I'm/ ena Mun HTTORNEX Patented Mar. 25, 1952 STRUCTUREDavid A. Wallace, Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich.,

and Paul Eugene Wallace, Omaha, Nebr., assignors, by mesne assignments,to said David A.

Wallace Application September 7, 1946, Serial No. 695,352

5 Claims. (Cl. 189-88) This application relates to a building structureand more particularly to an assembly of components in a metallicprefabricated building and to the individual components thereof.

A principal object of this invention is to provide anovel means by whichlongitudinal strips may be secured to supporting ribs for use in "abuilding structure.

A further object of the invention is to provide a means by which stripsadapted to support siding material may themselves be supported by aplurality of ribs.

Copending applications Serial Numbers 688,049,

filedAugust 2, 1946, and 691,026, filed August 16,

194 6 each now abandoned, describe means by which sheet siding elementsmay be secured to longitudinal strip elements by the cooperation ofunique contours in the elements and the deformation of at least one ofthe elements. In some instances it will be found that the longitudinalstrip elements referred to above are not adapted to be the ultimatesupport for the structure and means are provided herein to easilyassemble these longitudinal strips with such ultimate supports. Oneexample of the ultimate supports referred to is rib members secured tothe foundation or floor of I a building. Such rib members often extendin a vertical direction but in some buildings the ribs secured to afoundation or floor follow the entire contour of the building and evenare horizontal at certain points. A typical example of a building ofthis type is a hemi-cylindrical building such as the famous Quonset hut.The supporting ribs in buildings of this type are substantially verticalat their point of junction with their foundation or floor and havearcuate configurations.

In certain flat wall, ceiling or roof constructions it is'desirable touse relatively strongv rafter or beam constructions and to supplementthese rafter or beam constructions with longitudinal strips at rightangles thereto which are adapted to receive and secure a surfaceelement. The means by which supporting beams or ribs and longitudinalstrips disposed in normal relationship thereto are secured togetherforms an object of this invention. I

A further object of the invention is to provide means by whichcorrugated sheet metal siding elements may be assembled with rib memberswhen the corrugations and rib members are disposed in parallelrelationship.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a building structurein which the sheet siding material is secured to supportingmeans pwithout the creation of any opening in the siding material. Theelimination of openings is desirable in that they form an entrance formoisture and dirt.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a building structure provided withcorrugated metal siding and supporting ribs and having the corrugationsand ribs disposed in parallel planes.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a section of the wall of the Figure 1building.

Figure 3 illustrates an assembly of corrugated siding material in alongitudinal strip prior to deformation of the strip.

Figure 4 illustrates the Figure 3 assembly after deformation of thestrip.

Figures 5 and 6 are elevations of means of securing the longitudinalstrips and supporting ribs together by deformation of the strip.

Figure '7 is an elevation of a joint effected by a press fit assembly ofthe strip in a slot provided in the supporting rib.

Figures 8 and 9 illustrate a means to secure the strips and ribstogether by deformation of the rib member.

Figure 10 is a side elevation of a tool adapted to facilitate theassembly of strips and rib members.

Figure 11 is a section on the line 1111 of I Figure 10.

Figure 12 illustrates a tapered plug used in the assembly of siding withlongitudinal strips.

Referring to Figure 1 a building It comprising a floor ll, an end wallI2, and corrugated sheet metal exterior wall surface I3 is illustrated.The building has a hemi-cyclindrical section. The corrugations M of thesurface I3 are disposed in vertical planes.

A portion of the end wall l2 has been broken away to display therelative locations of parallel supporting ribs l5 and transverselyextending longitudinal strips it which support the corrugated sheetmetal surface l3. Figure 2 is a perspective view of a portion of thebuildin wall illustrating in more detail the relationship between thecorrugated sheet metal surface l3, the longitudinal strips 16 andsupporting ribs l5.

One means of securing the corrugated sheet metal surface elements iii tothe strips i6 is illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 herein and is describedand claimed in copending application Serial Number 691,026, nowabandoned.

Each strip I6 is provided with a plurality of recesses l1 intersectingits outer edge. The recesses of adjacent strips are aligned in verticalplanes. The surface elements I3 are provided with channel portions I8providing ribs having a contour adapted to be received in recesses II asillustrated in Figure 3. An opening I9 is provided in strip I6 adjacentthe recess I'I. When a tapered plug 20 (Figure 12) is inserted in theopening I6 and struck with a hammer. the opening I9 is spread and ear 2Ilocated between open-- ing I9 and recess I! is deformed and the recessI1 and channel rib portion I8 are constricted and the surface element I3is secured to the strip I6. Figure 4 illustrates the assembly after thedeformation has occured. A more detailed description of this means ofassembly may be -ob-- tained by referring to the copendingapplication-Serial Number 691,026, now abandoned.

The means by which longitudinal strips I6 are secured to supporting ribsI5 will now be described. In the preferred construction of the buildingthis assembly of the longitudinal strips IG -iand supporting ribs- I5would'be effected prior to-the assembly of thesurface element I3 withthe-longitudinal strip I6. Referring to Figure 5 the supporting rib I5is illustrated as-provided with a slot 22 extending inwardly from andnormalto an outer "edgeof the rib I5 The strip I6: formed of relativelythin sheet metal of less' thickness than; the" dimension of slot 22measured in the-directionparallel to the rib I5. Theribs" I 5 i aredisposedin parallel relationship and the slots 22 of adjacent ribs arealigned, preferably in aplane normal to the ribs I5. It will thus beseen that individual strips I 6 may be assembled so that each strip I6penetrates aligned slots 22 of the ribs" I5. The-strips I6 by reason oftheir thinness, and if desired by reason of" the characteristics. of themetal used, are relatively deformable compared to' the ribs I5. Theindividual'strip I6 when subjected to a force. located'in the plane .ofstrip' I6 andaligned with" the axis of the slot 22 is bottomed in theslot 22. and. deformed in the slot 22' as illustrated in..Fi"gure. 5;This deformation has been found to assume a wavy contour with the crestsand basesof the. waves engaging the side walls of the slotl'22 andeffecting a frictional engagement of the strip I6 with the rib I5thereby securing themrtogether. The sheet metal siding element I3 maythen be secured to the strips I6 as illustrated. in Figures 3 and 4 anddescribed above.

InFigure 6Ian.alternative means of assembling a. longitudinal strip anda supporting rib by deformation ,of'the strip is illustrated. Each ribmember IS-isprovided with aplurality ofspaced slots- 23 extending.inwardly from an outer edge thereof. and directed generally normal tothat edge. The slots of adjacent rib members are aligned. Eachslot 23preferably has an entrant portion 24 ofrelatively great width tofacilitate the-entrance of. a strip I6" into the slot. The upperedge ofthe slot. 23 is preferably normal tothe. outer edge of the rib I5throughout most of' thelength of the slot. The inner portion of the-slot23ihas a width substantially equal to the thickness, of the rib I6'andisdeflected from the outerportion. of the slot. In Figure 6' the innerportion 25' of. the slot 23 is illustrated as being deflected toasubstantially U-shape. The strip I6-isrelatively deformable compared tothe rib I5. It. will thus be seen thatwhen a portion of the strip I6penetrates the slot 23 and has a force appliedv thereto normalto theouter edge of the rib-I5rthe strip I6 is forced into theslotand'assmnes-si-the deformed contour-ofLthe sl'ot. In Fig;-

ure 6 the leading edge ofthe strip assumes the" 4 U-shape contour of theslot 23 and the strip I6 and rib I5 are thereby locked together. Asurface element I3 and strip I6 may then be assembled as illustrated inFigures 3 and 4.

In Figure '7 the rib I5 is illustrated as provided with a plurality ofspaced slots 26. The slots 26 are normalto the outer edge 2] of: the ribI5. The slots are rectangular in shape. The strips I6 have a thicknesssubstantially equal to the length of the minor axis of the rectangularslots 26. A press fit of a strip I6 in the aligned slots 26 provided inadjacent ribs I5 is thus facilitated. The sliding elements I3 may beassembled with the'strips I6- as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4.

Figures 10 and ll illustrate a tool adapted to facilitate theapplication of force to the strips I6 as required in the assemblies ofFigures 5, 6, and 7. This tool 30 comprises a stationary portion 3|having a slot 32 therein adapted to receive a rib I5. The rib [5supports the portion 3I. The portion 3I is. provided with a:trackor.cylinder 33; A movable: portion'34 of the tool 36has ag portionadapted to cooperate with cylinder: 33- and'slide therein. The moveableportion also is provided with abase 35 containing a slot 36 adapted toreceiveastrip I6 therein. The moveable portion 34 is also provided witha head. 31' extending beyond the stationary portion 31; The slots '32and 36 are disposed in 'planeswhichare perpendicular to each other. Itwill thus be-seen that'when-a strip I6 is assembled ina slot of" a ribI5 that the tool 36 may be positioned withits slot 32 receiving the rib-I5 and itsslot136 receiving the-strip I6. When-the-hea-d 31 'of the tool36* is struck witha hammer the force and motionare transmitted by themoveable-portion 34- of the-tool 30 and guided by the cylinder ortrack33'. Thus the forceisapplied in the-desired" directionandundesireddeflection of strip' I6-outside'of'the' slot inrib; I5istprevented by the'cooperation-of the head 35 and slot 36 in the tool;

In Figure 8 a means ofv assembling a rib I5 and" a: strip I6 by. thedeformation of' a portion of the rib and'the incidental deformation of aportion of the strip I6 is-illustrated. The rib l5jis provided with arecess-40. The strip I6; is formed with the-leading portion 4I thereofbentback'upon itself to form a substantially U-shaped'section. Thisportion 4I may becontinuous orin thenature of tabs struck out of thestrip- I6 and bentback upon the strip I6- at intervals corresponding tothe distancesbetween ribs I5. The portions 4| are-adapted tobe-receivedin recesses 40. In the vicinity of 'the recesses 46 the-ribs I5 areprovided withslots 42" extending inwardly from the outer edges of theribs I5. The slots 42 in combination with the recessesformdeformableears 43- in the ribmembers I5; A tapered instrument maybe; inserted inthe. widened entrant portion 45. of: slot 42 and when aforce is applied inthe: di rection-ofthe-axis of the slot 42 the ear 43Jis deformed into'the recess-40 thereby constrictingthe recess 46 anddeforming portion 4I OffthB; strip I6 to secure-the strip I6 andrib- I5:together. Figure 8 illustrates the components prior: to the deformationand Figure!) illustrates the componentsafter deformation. Itisto beunderstood that recesses 46- of adjacentribs I 5 are: aligned to receivea strip- I6 as illustrated in Figure 2. The car 43 is preferablyprovided withan inwardly extending; tab portion 44 and" the portion 41of the strip I6 preferablyis limited in its" length sothat it does-notextend outwardlyof the recess 46 beyondthe tab. p01

tion 44. Thus when the ear 43 is deformed the tab 64 forms a positivelock with the extreme end of the portion 4i of strip Hi. The surfaceelement l3 may be assembled with the strip 16 in the usual manner asillustrated in Figures 3 and 4.

We claim:

1. In combination in a prefabricated building construction, a sheetmetal building frame rib having a slotted edgef'a sheet metal crossframe member having a margin secured within said slotted edge of theframe rib member and extending cross-wise of; the frame rib member toopposite sides thereof, the opposite margin of said cross frame memberbeing slotted, and a sheet metal sheathing. panel havin an inturned ribsecured within the slotted margin of said cross frame member.

2. In combinationin a prefabricated building construction, a sheet metalframe rib member having a slotted edge, a sheet metal sheathing panelhaving an infolded attachment rib extending parallel to and in spacedrelation to said slotted edge of the frame rib member, and a cross framemember against the outer edge of which said panel member is disposed andhaving an outer edge slot within which said 'infolded rib is received,one ,side portion defining said cross frame slot being deformed-intointerlocking relation with said rib, the inner margin'of said crossframe memberbein disposed within the slotted margin of said frame ribmember and held therein by the interengagement of the opposing portionsof the cross frame member and the frame rib member within the framel'ribslot.

3. In a prefabricated building construction, a sheet metal frame ribhaving an edge with an inwardly extending slot therein, the inner endportion of the slot having a rounded contour and being enlargedlaterally to one side of the slot, and a sheet metal cross strip, havinga margin in said slot and engaging against one side of the slot, theterminal portion of said margin being turned generally complementary tothe curved inner end of the slot and having a terminal flange extendinginto said lateral enlargement of the slot and with the edge of theterminal flange directed generally outwardly, said rib having a portiondisposed outwardly at said slot enlargement and opposing said terminalflange edge to retainthe cross strip against withdrawal from the slot,the outer margin of said cross strip being disposed to receive andsupport a covering panel.

4. In a prefabricated building assembly, a relatively heavy gauge sheetmetal frame'rib having an edge including a slot extending inwardlytherefrom and diminishing in width toward the bottom of the slot, thebottom of theislot having an enlargement toward one side and with themost restricted portion of the slot immediately adjacent theenlargement, and a transverse frame strip of sheet metal of a gaugedeformable as compared to the frame rib and of a thickness substantiallyequal to the width ofthe slot at its most restricted portiofi, saidframe rib having a margin in said slot and with the terminal portion ofthe margin deformed laterally into said slot engagement and with theedge ,of the deformed portion of the margin directly generally outwardlyand into retaining opposition to the outermost portion of the frame ribdefining said enlargement adjacent to said restricted portion of theslot to retain the strip against'withdrawal from the slot.

5. In assembling prefabricated building components including a frame ribof sheet metal of substantial gauge having a slot in an'edge thereofincluding a rounded bottom and a lateral enlargement adjacent saidrounded bottom, within which slot a sheet metal transverse strip oflighter gauge and deformable relative to the frame rib is to beassembled, inserting a margin of the strip in said slot, and applyingforce to the opposite margin of the strip normal to said opposite marginand directed into said slot until the margin of the strip in the slot isdeformed into a terminal curl against said rounded bottom and into saidslot engagement.

DAVID A. WALLACE. PAUL EUGENE WALLACE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 84,881 Holmes Dec. 15, 1868122,171 Holmes Dec. 26, 1871 1,350,493 Goodrich Aug. 24, 1920 1,570,384McClure Jan. 19, 1926 1,669,236 Fick May 8, 1928 2,007,716 Green July 9,1935 2,089,935 Eyring Aug. 17, 1937 2,095,443 Jansen Oct. 12, 19372,239,817 Gross Apr. 29, 1941 2,313,228 Domonkos Mar. 9, 1943 2,427,937Willson Sept. 23, 1947

